Peace

-----Yui's POV

After cuddling and calming down over the events that happened today, we went back to join up with the others. Upon entering Olivia's room, I couldn't help but notice Gabriella giggling away on one of the chairs while talking with Luna.

Yui: "How much did you say she drank?"

Kaede: "Maybe like 3 glasses? I wasn't really paying attention."

Well at least she seems to be having a good time at least. And it seems as though Gabriella is even chatting away with Luna, another "commoner" she'd call her.

Yui: "Has she had any water?"

Kaede: "A bit, but not after she started drinking."

Gabriella: "Ah!~ Kaede! Do you have any left?"

Kaede: "We finished the bottle remember?"

Gabriella: "Hah!~ We should go out and buy some more~"

Kaede: "Fufu~ Maybe tomorrow, after school?"

Gabriella: "D-deal!"

Luna and Olivia seems to be giggling away as well with this exchange. But surely Kaede isn't being serious, right? Class starts tomorrow and she plans to buy more alcohol? Or could it be her just trying to please the drunk Gabriella since she probably won't remember it tomorrow.

Yui: "I'll go grab some water."

Kaede: "Kay."

I step into the kitchen, filling up a glass of water before heading over to where the others are. I'm not well versed in alcohol, but I do remember that staying hydrated is important when drinking.

Yui: "Here."

Gabriella: "Huh? Water?"

Yui: "Yes. It's important to stay hydrated."

Gabriella: "Don't need it~"

I saw this coming, but I wish that she'd just drink it with no problems.

Kaede: "If you don't drink it, we won't go out and buy more wine."

Gabriella: "Hey!~ That's not fair."

Kaede: "Oh well! Your loss."

Gabriella: "...Fine!"

She snatches the glass of water from my hand before immediately chugging it, spilling water all over her clothes in the process.

Olivia: "H-hey, you're getting most of it all over you!"

Gabriella: "Pah!"

With an exhale, she smiles victoriously before putting the glass onto the table.

Luna: "I've never seen someone this drunk before."

Luna leans over to me, speaking quietly so that Gabriella likely won't hear.

Yui: "Neither have I."

At least in this world. In my past life, dad used to drink every so often. It was rare, but he was always giggly and energetic when he did. Mom never seemed to mind it, calling him a "good drunk", which only makes me think what a "bad drunk" would be like. At least from what I'm seeing, Gabriella seems to be more on the "good drunk" side.

Luna: "You think she'll be okay for tomorrow?"

Yui: "I think so. As long as she stays hydrated, I think she'll be fine."

Olivia: "Leave that to me."

Gabriella: "What are you guys whispering over there for?~"

Kaede: "It's a surprise."

Gabriella: "Ah! I love surprises!"

Nice one Kaede, taking advantage of the gullible drunk.

Olivia: "You guys can go. I can take it from here."

Luna: "You sure?"

Olivia: "Yes. She's my roommate after all."

Gabriella: "Ah~ Olivia~ I love you too~"

Suddenly, Gabriella leans in to cling onto Olivia in an excited manner. It was quite startling for her to proclaim their love like that, but I doubt it's anything more than just friends.

Olivia: "M-Mmm."

It looks like Olivia herself doesn't like Gabriella this clingy, but I can see why she's being hesitant. Even though Gabriella's drunk, she's still a noble, so she probably doesn't want to cause any trouble.

Yui: "Okay. We'll go check back on Natalie."

Olivia: "Okay."

Yui: "Oh, Olivia. My mom's going to be coming back here soon if you'd like to see her."

Olivia: "Eh?! Lady Iris is coming all the way here?"

Yui: "Yes. She needs to pick up Natalie, so I can come grab you later if you like."

Gabriella: "If you going, I'm going! I want to meet this Iris person as well!"

Oh no. I don't think that's a good idea, but actually, it might be fun.

Yui: "Sure!"

Gabriella: "Alright~ We'll be waiting~"

Yui: "Mm!"

With Olivia making an audible sigh, Kaede, Luna and I make our leave, heading back to our room.

Luna: "Wait, so you were drinking as well, Kaede?"

Kaede: "Mhmm."

Luna: "You must be able to hold your alcohol pretty well, hehe."

Kaede: "Well, actually I think I'm incapable of getting like that."

Yui: "Yeah. When we first went out to the bar in Azalea, Kaede basically drank half a bottle of wine all by herself, and she wasn't fazed in the slightest."

Luna: "Woah~"

We enter the room as we continue the conversation, closing the door behind us.

Luna: "...Is it because you're a vampire?"

Kaede: "I think so. But all I know is that I can't taste the alcohol in alcoholic drinks."

Luna: "Drinks? Wait, so you've tried more than wine?"

Kaede: "Just beer as well. It was quite bland though, so I doubt I'd ever try it again. Wine is very tasty~"

Luna: "Interesting."

Kaede: "Did you wanna try? I still have an un-opened bottle."

Luna: "Thank you, but maybe next week? I don't want to risk it with classes tomorrow. Especially after seeing Gabriella like that."

Kaede: "Okay."

Yui: "Have you tried alcohol before, Luna?"

Luna: "Not at all. I don't think my parents have tried it either. Alcohol is seen more common in noble families after all."

Huh? That doesn't make sense. When we went to Azalea, there were many normal looking people all drinking alcohol like it was water. I'm aware the inns in the city are a lot more expensive than other places, but would that mean the alcohol here is just as bad? Yeah, something doesn't add up with this city, no wonder why mom is wanting to get out of here.

-----Mai's POV

It might be a little early of me to visit Lilith, but I have to make sure. If I wait another day, what might happen to her if all of this is just a trap?

Now that I'm aware of those skilled people in masks, I have to be careful to completely hide my mana, only using just enough to teleport to where Lilith's room is before hiding my presence. I successfully get inside the room, maintaining my invisibility until I make sure there's no one around before erasing all traces of my magic. With me no longer invisible, I'm the only one in the room, which tells me that Lilith must already be getting put to work.

I'd love to be able to walk out the room and look for her, but there's no way. I'd have to use invisibility magic, but if I do, I'd likely be caught by those people. I guess I'll have to rely on using just a bit of my mana to sense where everyone is.

Stretching out my mana as thinly as possible, it does appear that no one is outside the room. But as I was about to exit, I recall something quite important. Not only do those masked people, or at least their captain can sense mana, or maybe a device, but they can also hide their mana with those masks. If they're still around, I could easily bump into them. This sucks...

Thinking that there's no other way, I wait inside the room, waiting for Lilith to return instead of going out myself. I'm not sure how much time has passed, but I'm getting incredibly bored. Sure I left on somewhat good terms with the Queen, so there's a chance that nothing bad will happen if I did try and find Lilith, but I'd rather play it safe and wait.

Then, after what felt like all day, I could hear footsteps outside the door. I quickly go to hide behind the bed, ducking down on my knees. And in the next moment, the door opens.

?: "You did well today, thank you for the help."

Lilith: "Not a problem! Thank you for teaching me."

?: "Just be sure to be back in 30 minutes."

Lilith: "Yes!"

With that little exchange, the door closes, followed by someone falling onto the bed just next to me.

Lilith: "Hah~"

Sounds like Lilith, and if so, she sounds pretty happy with how she exhaled. I gently peek my head up, making sure there's no one else around. And after confirming it's just Lilith with her face buried into the bed, I stand up.

Mai: "Hey."

Lilith: "Ah!"

Mai: "Shhh~ Keep it down."

Lilith: "Mai? What are you doing here?"

Mai: "Just wanted to check on you."

Now looking at her, she's dressed in some kind of maid attire, but my eyes were drawn to her ankle that she injured before. It was now wrapped up in bandages and appears to be quite clean.

Lilith: "Ah, well I'm doing fine."

Mai: "I see you got your ankle all patched up."

Lilith: "Mhmm! When you left the other day, they immediately tended to me."

Well that's reassuring. I was still skeptical about the Queen's intentions, but to think they'd go straight to helping someone they just picked up off the street.

Mai: "Did they also get rid of the crest on your back?"

Lilith: "N-no. The mages did check on it, but apparently in order to remove it, I'd have to suffer a worse pain than when it was first burned into me."

Yeah, I had a feeling. Even when I was studying that bracelet, I couldn't figure out a way to get rid of it unless I break the entire thing. I can only imagine what damage it'd do to Lilith if they break that crest. Makes me just want to go to Inasdale and kill the whole lot of them.

Mai: "So you chose to keep it?"

Lilith: "...For now. They said they've never seen this on a human, so they will only get rid of it once I feel ready."

Mai: "Well don't make any decisions yet. I'll do some more research on my own. I don't want you getting hurt, so I'll find a less painful way to remove it... If I can."

Lilith: "You sure? I've already inconvenienced you enough."

Mai: "Mhmm. And you're not being an inconvenience. I'm curious about learning more about this magic, so I'm doing it for the both of us."

Lilith: "Mmm. Okay." 

?: "Lilith? You okay in there?"

Lilith: "Ah! Yes!"

Just as the door was about to open, I teleport out of the room. I didn't know where, but I choose to head to the base of the mountain range where I took Kaede.

Mai: "That was close."